Darienite (https://darienite.com/tag/jim-camerons-transportation-column-2024)
While I’m on vacation this week I thought I’d revisit a commentary I wrote in 2014. Judge for yourself how little has changed in 11 years. Everybody loves to complain about our traffic. And for some, the solutions are simple, if impractical. If there were easy answers to our woes, they’d have been implemented by now.
As President upends the way things are done in D.C., I thought I’d revisit an idea I wrote about two years ago that he might just consider. Trump is big on privatizing government services (like the post office), so why not Amtrak, too? Why does the U.S. have only one serious passenger railroad? And given its monopoly and high fares, wouldn’t a choice of rail carriers bring better service and lower prices? Sure, Amtrak competes against the air shuttles (which are faster, but even more expensive), buses (much cheaper and slower) and, of course, cars (also slower).
Imagine that. A politician who keeps his word. However you feel about our new president, he is doing exactly what he pledged he would do — and quickly. He is fulfilling promises that got him elected, so nobody should be surprised. Scared, perhaps.
Oh Happy Day! Congestion pricing is finally happening in New York City’s CBD (Central Business District), i.e. Midtown Manhattan. After decades of discussion, years of studies, dozens of court cases and numerous delays, motorists who chose to drive into midtown Manhattan (below 60th Street) will now be charged a toll based on the size of their vehicle and the time of day. Full details can be found here. Finally, someone is doing something to deal with too many cars/trucks and not enough space.
When we are spending our own hard-earned money, we are usually pretty cautious, especially in these tough times. But when it comes to spending OPM (Other Peoples’ Money), who cares? A few examples from the news highlight government’s cavalier attitude in this regard:
The $16 Million Bridge
CDOT is justifiably proud that it could rebuild the Fairfield Avenue bridge on I-95 in Norwalk damaged in a fiery crash last May, finishing months earlier than predicted and under budget, at just $16 million (compared to the initial estimated $20 million). Kudos to the (no bid contract) construction company — and to the fact that 80% of the cost will be paid by the Feds. Yes, once again, it’s OPM to the rescue.
When it comes to trains, everything old is new again: the latest trend for rail travel is night trains. A private California company, DreamStar Lines, is planning an overnight train between LA and San Francisco offering “luxurious accommodations” in modern sleeping cars designed by BMW. Service could begin as early as next summer. The sleeping cars will range from a bedroom for two (with a shower and toilet) all the way up to a family/group room that sleeps up to six (four adults + two kids). There will also be a lounge car available to all guests, which will serve light food and a full bar featuring breweries, wineries, and distilleries from across California.
I love AI (artificial intelligence). I rely on it daily to help with my research. “How many bar cars did Metro-North operate in the 1990s?” Answer: 10
“How many people died in auto accidents on Connecticut highways in 2019?” Answer: 254
“Create an image of a Metro-North club car” And poof, it’s done! But what exactly is AI? Let’s ask ChatGPT:
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is like teaching computers to think, learn, and make decisions, similar to how humans do.
Jodi Rell saved our trains. There is no governor in recent decades who did more for rail commuters than she did. Gov. Rell, who died this past week at age 78, came to office (when she was lieutenant governor) in the midst of a scandal as her predecessor, Gov. John Rowland, resigned when caught accepting illegal gifts and did 10 months in a federal prison. Rowland, you should remember, was no fan of Connecticut’s railroads. He actually proposed replacing the trains on Shore Line East with buses due to that line’s high subsidies.
Heading to New York City? Take the train, because driving is going to become even more expensive: the New York plan for “congestion pricing” is back! As everyone predicted last June when New York Gov. Kathy Hochul suspended plans for a $15 toll for driving into midtown Manhattan, she has now reversed her decision. She is now proposing a $9 charge for passenger cars ($2.25 off-peak, and $14.40 for small trucks). It seems ironic that New York City doesn’t control its own mass transit system, but that responsibility is left to the state.
Finally, there’s some good news for Metro-North riders, especially those who take the Danbury, Waterbury and Hartford lines: new locomotives are coming — eventually. Meet the Siemens Charger model SC-42DM, the first of its kind in the U.S.
Being built in Sacramento California, these new engines are the latest innovation in the long history of this German manufacturer. It was Siemens that built the first electric tram in the late 1800s. They even partnered to build one of the first commercial maglev trains, in Shanghai. The Charger is a great machine and there are hundreds already in use in the U.S. and abroad, running on railroads ranging from Amtrak and Brightline to commuter lines in Maryland, California and many other states.
Like so many people, I absolutely love Vermont. But the journey to get there? Well, it’s not my favorite part. From Fairfield County to Burlington, Vermont, it’s about 300 miles. Driving takes around five hours and costs roughly $35 in gas one-way.
When Marie Antoinette, the last queen of France before the revolution, was asked how to quell her starving peasant subjects, she is alleged to have said “Let them eat cake.”
And as history so often repeats itself, Gov. Ned Lamont seems to be taking the same tack with grumbling Connecticut residents angry over utility pricing. While he still refuses to call a special session of the Legislature to address the issue, last week he presided over the unveiling of a new campaign to make Nutmeggers feel better about their lot. Four signs were erected on the interstate entrances to our state, welcoming travelers by reminding them that Connecticut is “The Foodie / Submarine / Basketball / Pizza Capital” of New England / The U.S. / The World. Don’t you just feel the pride? Or is it more like confusion?
You’ve seen the pictures — washed out rail tracks, crumbled roadways, debris and flood damage everywhere. The 1,000-year storm that hit the Naugatuck Valley last week caused destruction of biblical proportions. And the reconstruction will take weeks, possibly months. First off, the CDOT must secure the damaged areas, remove the debris and inspect for structural damage. Where appropriate they’ll replace damaged bridges with temporary spans, pulled from an inventory of such bridges stored for such occasions.
It may be the dog days of summer, but there’s still news on the transportation front …
WHO WANTS AN EV? According to a recent AAA New England survey more than half of respondents said they would never buy an electric vehicle. SO WHY ANOTHER ELECTRIC RATE INCREASE? Yes, PURA just voted another rate increase — about $3 a month for all electric customers — to pay for EV charging stations. But why are we paying for gear we may never use?
Enjoying the heatwave this summer? The electric utilities sure are. And just wait till you get your next bill. They’ve been warning us for months now that we’ll be in for a shocker as the average bill will jump by about $13 per month. That’s on top of what are already the second highest electric rates in the U.S., exceeded only by those in Hawaii.